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Any ideas appreciated

Lyn14Lyn14 Posts: 7
in Garden design

Hi, can anyone help? We have a long exposed border to fill on an exposed very windy site with chalky clay soil. We have farmland next door and would like to see through the plants to the horses and sheep in the next field. Would also like the things at the back to be evergreen or give some autumn colour and be very hardy, then for the front to be different heights and shapes of colour and cottage style. not sure where to start..

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I'd be inclined to get some shelter belt in first Lyn - it almost has to be slightly 'sacrificial' so that the planting you put in front of it gets a chance to thrive. There's also the green netting you can attach first - it helps protect everything from the wind.

    What type of planting do you like ? Do you want flowering shrubs or small trees for instance, and do you want more evergreens at the front as well as perennials? Things like Amelanchier would do well, and Sorbus (rowans) also. You'll have to be aware of animals on the other side nibbling too! 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Lyn14Lyn14 Posts: 7

    Hi Fairygirl

    thanks for the response and the suggestion of green netting. The animals can't reach from the other side as their field is much lower and there's a barbed wire fence about a foot into their field, but I am still a bit worried about things spreading into there. 

    Id like some 'fillers' I suppose at the back but am open to ideas, I just don't want to spend money and have things die. Is there anything tall but not solid that would do well in the wind? How about grasses or bamboo or are they a bad idea?

  • SparklesJDSparklesJD Posts: 344

    It's tempting to plant bamboo or grasses when you have a big space, as they grow quickly, but personally I'd avoid bamboo, as it spreads like wildfire and is nigh on impossible to get rid of. The same with some grasses, although some are probably fine - we had a real problem with weeping sedge in a previous house.

  • Lyn14Lyn14 Posts: 7

    Ok, thanks

    it was originally just full of old tree stumps, hawthorn and nettles and wild flowers. We have buddlieas either end and we'd like to replace some apple trees we lost either end too. I like poppies, verbena and cottage garden tall flowers and alliums, but dont know what to put along the back

  • Lyn14Lyn14 Posts: 7

    Hi Fairygirl

    thanks for the response and the suggestion of green netting. The animals can't reach from the other side as their field is much lower and there's a barbed wire fence about a foot into their field, but I am still a bit worried about things spreading into there. 

    Id like some 'fillers' I suppose at the back but am open to ideas, I just don't want to spend money and have things die. Is there anything tall but not solid that would do well in the wind? How about grasses or bamboo or are they a bad idea?

  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511

    I agree with Fairygirl; plant a shelter belt first of chalk tolerant native species like hawthorn, privet, beech, holly, blackthorn, wild roses etc.  I would do that this month.  You can still buy them bare rooted and they will be cheap.  You could try holm oak too which is evergreen.

    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • SparklesJDSparklesJD Posts: 344

    Amazing view by the way! image

  • Lyn14Lyn14 Posts: 7

    Thank you all for the ideas, I like the idea of wild roses but don't really want privet or trees as I don't want to go any higher than the fence or have something solid blocking the view. Has anyone any experience of a long exposed patch of garden like this and had successful planting? We had one (!) really tall mullein there which I liked but it has died but like that tall thin kind of plant and structure

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546

    Try this: type 'Prairie planting' into Google and have a look at the images. I think it would sit your garden and some of your requirements. If you like the effect, you can read up on how to achieve it and maybe go and visit some gardens to see it for real. It can be done on a smaller scale, though you look to have a fair amount of space, and you can decide on the height of the grasses you use. It would still probably be a good idea to have some variation in height as it would give more interest; you could align low spots with favourite viewing angles. The grasses would give you the see through effect you are after and wouldn't block the light, so taller ones could be allowed in places.

     If you don't like it and are still set on the cottagey theme, then I think you will need at least some shelter from shrubs as a backdrop. You also say you don't want anything solid, but then want evergreens. If these are to be no taller than the fence, then the things in front will need to be fairly short to give them the light they need,  or the leaves at the base will die off and they will look ugly just when you need them to look their best.

  • Lyn14Lyn14 Posts: 7

    Hi Buttercupdays

    thanks for taking the time to reply. I had thought about this before and saw them do something like this on a 'love your garden' programme. I just wasn't sure it would fit in here or be substantial enough. I would like the movement and something I could leave in winter like thistle heads. just seeing what ideas are out there before I start or if someone could help with definatel no nos for the exposed site.

    thanks for your thoughts on the evergreens and smaller plants too

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